Many people would say that the best way to start off the day is with a hot cup of coffee, but in my opinion the best way to start of one’s day is with the, “morning offering.”
The morning offering is a simple prayer of faith and hope that is normally prayed at the beginning of each day. Like monks who offer their entire day to God through work and prayer, the morning offering presents lay people with the same opportunity by allowing them to offer their: prayers, works, joys and sufferings, to God amongst the busyness of daily life.
In my opinion, what makes the morning offering so special and important is that it transforms every action, joy, and suffering into a meritorious act. This transformation not only gives glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but causes a steady stream of heavenly graces to fall upon the world.
A number of years ago, I believe it was American Express who ran a commercial that claimed you should never, “leave home without it,” referring to their credit card. We can apply the same line of thinking to the morning offering, “don’t leave home without praying it.”
I have to admit, there was a time when I did not pray the morning offering on a regular basis, but that changed when I read the book, “He Leadeth Me” by Fr. Walter Ciszek. In his book, Fr. Walter wrote, “...in my opinion the morning offering is still one of the best practices of prayer -- no matter how old-fashioned some may think it. For in it, at the beginning of each day, we accept from God and offer back to Him all the prayers, works, (joys) and sufferings of the day, and so serve to remind ourselves once again of His Providence and His Kingdom… We cannot pray always, in the sense of those contemplatives who have dedicated their whole lives to prayer and penance. Nor can we go around abstracted all day, thinking only of God and ignoring our duties to those around us, to family and friends and to those for whom we are responsible. But we can pray always making each action and work and suffering of the day a prayer insofar as it has been offered and promised to God.”
Fr. Walter Ciszek’s reflection on the morning offering is a wonderful summation of its importance within the spiritual life of the lay person. Though we don’t live in a monastery or abbey, the morning offering is a perfect tool where we can offer our day to Jesus and by doing so lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven and receive great graces and lights from our Heavenly Father.
Because there are many versions of the morning offering to choose from, I developed my own version and you can do the same or choose one of the many that already exist. The important thing is that you make the morning offering a daily part of your prayer life.
God bless.
